Sue Rinaldi is a UK illustrator who loves capturing the sweetness and whimsy of childhood. Initially trained as a violinist, she later worked for BBC Proms publishing department. Her first love of drawing resurfaced a few years later when she started her family. Since then, she has produced commissions for the BBC Proms and the London Symphony Orchestra and illustrated several books for young readers. Suzie Blush is her first book to be published as author-illustrator and was a runner-up in the Key Colours Competition in 2022. She lives in a beautiful market town with her two teenagers and works part-time in a primary school where she finds endless inspiration for her illustrations.

"Overcoming shyness, one blush at a time. Suzie loves to sing, dance, read, and dream. She performs these activities secretly because she often feels self-conscious--an emotion that's visually embodied by a furry red creature named Blush who follows her everywhere. One day, Blush joins her in class. When Suzie must answer a question, Blush grows in size; her classmates stare. Blush glows; so do Suzie's cheeks. Her classmates giggle. At home, Mom--a small figure who inexplicably inhabits a fishbowl--says that "most people have a Blush...Things that make them shy or worried...But if you're brave and believe in yourself, Blush might shrink and become less scary." At school the next day, Suzie notices other kids' Blushes and joins their activities. Voilà! Blush shrinks. Later, when Suzie must stand up in class, Blush grows again, tugging at her leg. Suzie bravely faces Blush, confesses that Blush makes her sad, and asks the interloper to shrink. Gradually, Blush slips away entirely, and Suzie becomes "Suzie Strong, Suzie Happy." This sympathetic tale should empower many children, though shyness isn't so easily conquered in real life. Still, it offers hope that kids can confront their shyness, just as Suzie learns to do. The delicate illustrations are calming; red Blush occasionally looks fearsome, making Suzie's power over it more impressive. Suzie and her mom are pale-skinned, Suzie's teacher is brown-skinned, and her classmates are diverse.

A gentle story that offers support and may help allay some fears." - Kirkus Reviews

"Suzie Sunshine, Suzie Clear Skies, Suzie Daydream--whatever she's called, this child with yellow hair, rosy cheeks, and eyeglasses spends a lot of time alone because she has a Blush. It's at first a small red monster that is slightly annoying and gets in the way at times. When Suzie gets to school, Blush grows when she is called on and becomes so large that she's essentially paralyzed. Her mother, with black hair and brown skin, reminds her that she shouldn't worry so much about what others think. Suzie sees the blushes of other children and warns Blush that it can stick around, but only in her pocket. The confetti-colored illustrations grow vibrantly red and orange when Blush does, and Suzie's expressive face tells children all they need to know, and likely already feel, whether they can read or not. VERDICT It's a very tidy SEL lesson, but includes a not very scary monster, a realistic and diverse classroom setting, and a cheerful heroine who just needs a little nudge to live her best life." - School Library Journal

Publisher: Clavis

Pub date: 2024-10-22

Length: 32 pages